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WASHINGTON President Obama accepted Rep. Joe Wilson's apology for interrupting his health care speech to Congress, but the S.C. Republican continued to insist that the president misled the nation with “inaccurate statements.”
Wilson, a retired Army National Guard colonel serving his fifth term in the House, was transformed overnight from a relatively obscure lawmaker into a household name and a symbol of the belligerent atmosphere of U.S. politics today.
Democrats and Obama supporters pilloried Wilson on Thursday for accusing the president of lying during Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress. A number of Republicans criticized him publicly, but he told McClatchy Newspapers that many of his House colleagues praised him privately.
“I've been very pleased at the number of people who have told me that what I said is what they felt,” Wilson said.
After Obama told Congress on Wednesday evening that illegal immigrants wouldn't get benefits under his health care plan, Wilson yelled, “You lie!”
In a long, complex explanation Thursday, Wilson acknowledged that Obama's assertion about illegal immigrants was technically correct.
Wilson, though, said the House Democratic health care bill has no provisions to enforce a ban on benefits to undocumented workers, so he claimed they'd end up getting government health insurance under the measure.
“When he said illegal aliens would not be covered, the wording says that, but there's no enforcement,” Wilson said. “When the Republicans offered amendments (to toughen enforcement), they were defeated. … So, when he said that, I was just really appalled.”
Wilson added: “Now, I did wrong. I should not have spoken up, but what he said was not correct.”
Wilson called Obama's chief of staff after the address late Wednesday and apologized. Obama said Thursay he accepted the apology.
“I'm a big believer that we all make mistakes,” Obama said after a meeting with his Cabinet. “He apologized quickly and without equivocation. And I appreciate that. I do think that we have to get to the point that we have a conversation without … assuming the worst in people.”
The health care legislation is still being developed, and many of the details could change, but based on the proposals so far, fact-checkers say Obama's overarching point in Wednesday's speech was accurate: The legislation would not allow illegal immigrants to obtain the proposed government subsidies that would make it easier for low-income individuals and families to afford health insurance.
Many conservative activists hailed Wilson for saying the legislation as proposed does not include sufficient enforcement mechanisms. And in his strongly Republican congressional district Thursday, he was celebrated by many of his constituents for his outburst.
Diane Sough, a retired insurance agent from Hilton Head, went to Wilson's office with her husband to express her support.
“He's like the boy who yelled out, ‘The emperor has no clothes,'” she said. “Well, this president has no truth.”
“Give Obama hell,” said Bob Allen, 52, a construction worker in Columbia. “I'm proud of my congressman.”
Wilson campaign aides said he raised $200,000 in the wake of his outcry. Many people said they wished more politicians would speak their minds – but most said they wished it hadn't happened.
“Joe was very immature. He's always been pretty under control. I'm a little embarrassed,” said Roy Smith, a business manager who spoke as he ate breakfast in Cayce. “I voted for Joe and probably still will.”
Some commentators on the right, including radio host Rush Limbaugh and blogger Michelle Malkin, said Wilson had nothing to apologize for and should instead be hailed for his willingness to challenge Obama on the particulars of his health care proposals.
Several noted that President George W. Bush drew derisive hoots from Democrats when he made his case for Social Security changes during his 2005 State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress.
But Wilson's colleagues overwhelmingly took the position that he had exceeded the bounds of congressional decorum and that he took the right step by admitting it.
“His behavior was inappropriate,” said Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, the Republican leader.
Other Republicans said it was also counterproductive, saying the outburst was a political bonanza for Democrats, feeding the party's story line that the August uproar over the health care proposals was fed by boorish Republicans and orchestrated attacks.
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, a Democrat whose congressional district abuts Wilson's, said he wasn't satisfied with his fellow South Carolinian's apology to the White House.
Clyburn threatened Wilson with an official House sanction unless he issued an apology to his fellow lawmakers.
“Either he can deal with it or the House can deal with it,” Clyburn told reporters. “If he does not apologize to the members of the House, then I think a resolution will probably be introduced, and we will go from there.”
Clyburn and other Democratic House leaders have a range of options, from a resolution of disapproval to a measure expressing full censure of Wilson.
The episode vaulted Wilson's 2010 re-election opponent, Iraq war veteran Rob Miller, into new visibility.
“As a former Marine, I was always trained to respect the chain of command,” said Miller, a Democrat. “I was surprised that Congressman Wilson would disrespect the commander in chief on national television. His actions really exemplify everything that's wrong in Washington. Shouting and name-calling have no place when we're dealing with such important issues.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a fellow S.C. Republican who criticized Wilson late Wednesday, came to his defense Thursday. He pledged to campaign for Wilson's re-election.
“Joe Wilson is a good man,” Graham told Fox News. “He should not be defined by that one moment. He has four boys who are all in the military. He's a good congressman. He's passionate about politics.”
Graham accused Obama of having “set the wrong tone in that session” while addressing Congress, deriding it as “a partisan pep rally instead of a chance to bring the country together.” The Associated Press and The New York Times contributed.
